Improvement in trunks



` C. M.-J'ENKINS.

TRUNK.

No. 183,008. Patented 0ct.10,1876.

, Z' 'I l y; E r L@ M j 5 1 Ig'. 5 5 i Jf E" B Wz'Z/z ess Gs.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES M. JENKINS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRUNKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 183,008, dated October 10, 1876; application filed April 6, 1876.

.To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. JENKINS, of city and county of St. Louis, and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wooden Trunks, of which the following is a specication, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and the letters of reference marked thereon.

Trunks are now generally provided with one or more compartments or so-called trays, for the purpose of' packing the dii'erent articles separately. These trays are sometimes constructed to be placed in the trunk or removed at pleasure; but more frequently they are hinged to the body or to the cover of the trunk, so as to swing back with the cover when admission to the lower part of the trunk is wanted. l generally use two trays, A and B, Fig. 2--the upper one of a shape to correspond with the interior shape of the cover, the other of a square form and resting on two straps or carriers in the trunk, when it is let down. The trays are attached to each other and to the trunk by three flanged hinges,

Fig 3, and they are attached to each other in front by a catch, Whose peculiar form is exhibited in Fig. 4. By disengaging this catch one tray may beraised or lowered independent of the other. The lock C serves to hold the two trays together, and also to 'attach them to the cover. The principal part of the lock C is the double hook m, which turns on a pivot in the center of the lock-plate n. [ts ends g g are beveled, to slide into the staples p p, receiving a tendency to catch by the action of a spring, o. The upper hook (q) is longer than the lower, (g,) so that the latter may be disengaged without releasing the former, whereby the lower tray may be detached from the upper without detaching this from the cover. A ratchet-shaped mortise in the lower lock-plate, in combination with spring o, arrests the catch in any desired position, from which it is easily released by a slight pressure of the thumb. This lock is fastened to the upper tray-one staple, p, to the inside of the cover, the other, lo, to the front of the lower tray. It is evident that a single hook will be substituted for the double-shanked hook, when the trunk is constructed with a single tray, and in this instance common hinges will take the place of the threefold hinges. The back ot' the trunk-body His shorter than the sides and front, so that the sides enter into the cover when the trunk is closed, thereby supporting the top against pressure from above, from the front or rear. This arrangement ali'ords the other advantage, to give the trunk more stability, preventing a tumbling back when opened. For the purpose of securing the lid against jerks and pressure from the side, I cut two recesses, D D, into the front part of the body, and provide the cover with correspending ilanges E E, or vice versa, so that the anges enter into the recesses when the trunk is closed, thereby effecting a strong and safe connection between the top and body. These ianges may be ot' wood, castiron, or other material, and they maybe square, oval, or of any other suitable shape.

Similar recesses and flanges may also be applied to the sides.

Now what I claim as Iny invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a trunk the anges E,and corresponding recesses D, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with a shortened back, and the cover and hinged trays of the doubleacting spring-catch and corresponding staples, substantially as shown and described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 16th day of February, 1876.

CHARLES M. JENKINS.

Witnesses:

EDMUND F. SGHREINER, C. HAETMAN, HENRY G. JANSSEN. 

